Consumer Affairs

NDP Consumer Affairs critic George Murphy (MHA, St. John’s East) says household budgets in the province are reaching the breaking point, and the latest multi-million dollar ask from Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro may be the final straw if the province’s Public Utilities Board grants the rate increase.

NDP Consumer Affairs Critic George Murphy (MHA, St. John’s East) says Newfoundland Power’s request for a 7.2 per cent increase in consumer rates is out of line, and he has written to the Public Utilities Board to say so.

NDP Consumer Affairs critic George Murphy (MHA, St. John’s East) says Newfoundland and Labrador consumers could easily end up paying for power they never use. The “take or pay” power purchase agreement commits Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro to buying 40 per cent of the power produced by the proposed Muskrat Falls project for 50 years, whether consumers in the province use the power or not.

NDP Consumer Affairs Critic George Murphy (MHA, St. John’s East) has serious concerns about the “take or pay” arrangement which will be in effect after the Muskrat Falls project is completed and producing energy.

NDP Consumer Affairs Critic George Murphy (MHA, St. John’s East) is concerned about the latest inflation numbers from Statistics Canada, and is linking those numbers to Marine Atlantic rate increases. According to Statistics Canada, consumer prices in January were up in this province by 2.5% compared to January last year.